Citation: Rongjin Lin, Shuiping Cai, Chen Cheng, Changyong Zhao, Yingkang Tian, Xiaofei Yang, Xuejie Gao, Runcang Sun. NbN as cathode catalysis for lithium-sulfur batteries: Unlocking sulfur conversion kinetics[J]. Chinese Chemical Letters, ;2026, 37(5): 110862. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.110862 shu

NbN as cathode catalysis for lithium-sulfur batteries: Unlocking sulfur conversion kinetics

Rongjin Lin ^{a, 1} ,
Shuiping Cai ^{a, 1} ,
Chen Cheng ^a ,
Changyong Zhao ^a ,
Yingkang Tian ^a ,
Xiaofei Yang ^b ,
Xuejie Gao ^{a, *,} ,
Runcang Sun ^a

a.
Center for Lignocellulosic Chemistry and Biomaterials, College of Light Industry and Chemical Engineering, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, China
b.
Division of Energy Storage, Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China

gaoxuejie1107@163.com

Received Date: 6 December 2024
Revised Date: 6 January 2025
Accepted Date: 14 January 2025
Available Online: 15 January 2025

Figures(4)

The dissolution of lithium polysulfides (Li₂S_x, 4 ≤ x ≤ 8, LiPSs) intermediates and slow redox kinetics are the main factors leading to the rapid capacity degradation of lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs), significantly limits the practical development of LSBs. To overcome challenges, NbN embedded in nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (NbN@NCNT) composites were synthesized here as sulfur hosts by taking advantage of the superior electrical conductivity and excellent catalytic activity of the metal nitride NbN. The incorporation of NbN enhanced the polysulfides conversion efficiency and suppressed the shuttling effect, thereby enhancing cycling stability in LSBs. XPS results revealed the formation of Li₂S, indicating that Li₂S₈ was sufficiently effectively reduced and catalytically converted to the Li₂S. Consequently, after 100 cycles, the capacity retention rate of LSBs using the S/NbN@NCNT electrode reached 71.5% at a current density of 2 mA/cm² with a high sulfur loading of 3 mg/cm². More importantly, even at high current density of 8 mA/cm², the battery assembled with NbN@NCNT was still able to reach the high capacity of 878.14 mAh/g, demonstrating outstanding rate capability. This study offered novel insights into the potential for enhancing the sulfur reaction kinetics in LSBs.
- NbN@NCNT cathode host,
- Fast conversion kinetics,
- Suppressing shuttle effect,
- Catalyzer,
- Lithium-sulfur battery
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